Wire Dispenser for Beading

ABSTRACT

Wire used for beading is coiled on a rotably mounted reel in a dispenser having a reel brake bearing against the reel with the wire passing through a channel as extended to the exterior of the dispenser with the wire frictionally engaging both the walls of the channel and a resilient element pressing against the wire to modulate the force required to withdraw the wire from the dispenser to a value which is high enough to prevent spontaneous unwinding of the wire from around the reel but still allowing easy removal from the dispenser when desired.

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY

This non-provisional application claims the benefit of the filing dateof U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/629,995, of the sametitle, filed Dec. 2, 2011. The priority of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/629,995 is hereby claimed and the disclosurethereof is incorporated into this application by reference.

Many hobbyists have taken up beading as a past time, making decorativejewelry and ornamental objects for their families and friends as well asthemselves. Many beaded items are formed by placing beads on a wire orother filament to make necklaces, bracelets, key rings, bangles andother decorative items. Because many beaders like to practice theirhobby in odd moments of spare time as they go about their daily life,transportability and convenience are important in the accessories thatthey use. One issue involves beading wire which is often sold on a spoolwhich, due to its inherent stiffness, allows the wire to spontaneouslyunspool when carried about in a purse or beading, often putting crimpsin the wire making it either unattractive for many of the beadedprojects or difficult to use or too often spoiling it completely forbeading applications. Beading wire is of a rather specializedconstruction, normally comprising a multiplicity of strands, most often,7, 19, 21 or 49, so that it will drape properly once the beads arestrung upon it. Because this drapability makes it quite easy for beadingwire to come spontaneously off of a reel or unspool, a ratherspecialized dispenser is required.

This invention relates to a dispenser for beading wire or other beadingfilaments which may be transported easily and conveniently which doesnot allow the wire to unspool spontaneously but makes it easy for thebeader to withdraw the desired amount while ensuring that the beadingwire even though protected does not retract into the dispenser overlyeasily as well as ensuring that, if by happenstance it is urged inwardlyinto the dispenser, the beader will have little difficulty restarting itas the dispenser is easily openable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in detail below with reference to the variousFigures, wherein:

FIGS. 1-7 illustrate one embodiment of the present invention in which aresilient gripping pad restrains the wire as it exits the dispenser;

FIGS. 8, 8A and 9-11 illustrate an alternative embodiment in which thestructure of the dispenser housing serves to restrain the wire;

FIG. 12 illustrates details of the clasp retaining the dispenser in aclosed configuration;

FIGS. 13-15 relate to material saving embodiments of the presentinvention providing much of the functionality of the embodiment of FIGS.1-12;

FIGS. 16 A-C illustrate the details of the construction of the throat ofthe dispenser of a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 17 and 18 schematically illustrate a simple experiment to estimatethe force required to withdraw wire from the dispenser.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention is described in detail below with reference to severalembodiments. Such discussion is for purposes of illustration only.Modifications to examples within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention, set forth in the appended claims, will be readily apparent toone of skill in the art. Terminology used throughout the specificationand claims herein is given its ordinary meaning.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7, wire dispenser 20 comprisesintegrally formed housing halves 22 and 24 adjoining each other alongfirst living hinge 26 formed adjacent triangular snout portions 28 and30 of each housing half 22 and 24 respectively. Housing halves 22 and 24comprise generally circular planar central portions 32 and 34 adjoiningtriangular snout portions 28 and 30, with peripheral wall 36 and 38formed thereabout, respectively. Preferably peripheral walls 36 and 38are mateable with each other in overlapping engagement between lip 39and ledge 41 thereby defining generally cylindrical containment cavity40 with reel 42 disposed therein with reel 42 having hub 43 and flanges44 and 46 formed thereupon. Axles 48 and 50 are defined by interior wallportions 52 and 54 arising from generally circular planar centralportion 32 and 34 respectively. Hub 43 of reel 42 encompasses axles 48and 50 and maintains reel 42 in position within generally cylindricalcontainment cavity 40. In the closed conformation, outwardly projectingresilient gripper pads 56 and 57 on peripheral walls 36 and 38 areformed integrally with housing halves 22 and 24 respectively and serveto controllably restrain wire W and prevent it from withdrawing intodispenser 20 while flexible restraining membrane 64 adds a modulatedrestraining force to wire W.

Retention flap 66 having retention slot 68 formed therein adjoinshousing half 22 along second living hinge 70. Retention lug 72projecting from housing half 24 has prismatic base 74 adjoining housinghalf 24 while bulbous end portion 76 is spaced distally therefrom. Reelbrakes 78 are defined by U-shaped slots 79 formed into generallycircular planar portions 32 and 34 forming a tongue shaped flap 80bearing against inwardly projecting retarding projections 82 whichfrictionally engage flanges 44 and 46. Retarding projections 82 of reelbrakes 78 project upwardly from generally circular planar portion 32 ofhousing half 22 and bear against flanges 44 and 46 of reel 42 to preventfree-wheeling thereof but are free to retract slightly as each ofretarding ridges 84 engage retarding projections 82 seriatim as reel 42rotates with dispenser 20 while wire W is withdrawn therefrom. Whenhousing halves 22 and 24 are urged against each other and peripheralwalls 36 and 38 are overlappingly engaged as described above, dispenser20 may be locked into the closed configuration with retention lug 72passing through retention slot 68 in retention flap 66 as shown in FIG.12. In the closed conformation, resilient gripping pads 56 and 57 engagewire W preventing it from withdrawing into dispenser 20 whilecontributing to the force required to withdraw wire W from thedispenser.

The embodiment of FIGS. 8-11 illustrates an alternative grippingmechanism in which walls 58 and 60 are formed integrally with housinghalf 24 and define longitudinal channel or slot 62 through which wire Wpasses. Longitudinal channel or slot 62 is sized such that it takesadvantage of the natural curvature in wire W resulting from its previouscondition of being wound around hub 43 of reel 42, as this curvatureurges wire W against transverse walls 58 and 60 in housing half 24 andserves to frictionally retard its motion in or out of dispenser 20.After wire W passes through longitudinal channel or slot 62 and thencebetween recessed pressing pad 57 formed integrally with housing half 22and projecting pressing pads 56 and 57 in formed integrally with housinghalves 22 and 24, wire W exits dispenser 20 and may be snipped off atany convenient length by the user.

In the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 10A and 11, pressingpad 57 bears against wire W from below while projecting pressing pad 56bears against wire W from above but pressing pad 57 and pressing pad 64serve to restrain wire W frictionally as wire W is trapped between thembut must also pass through restraining membrane 64 which both yieldsflexibly in the direction perpendicular to wire W's travel and maydeform more permanently to form a groove (not shown) accommodating wireW, while wire W is both laterally restrained between transverse walls 58and 60 as well as being frictionally restrained as discussed above. Inview of the slight but finite stiffness of wire W, and the slightcurvature therein resulting from wire W being unreeled from reel 42,both outward and inward movements of wire W are restrained by thisarrangement in which wire passes between two transverse wall 58 and 60which are spaced apart by a distance which is greater than the diameterof wire W but less than the curvature resulting in wire W over thelength of transverse walls 58 and 64 resulting from its stay on reel 42while pressing pads 57 and 56 frictionally engage wire W so that whenwire W is snipped outwardly of projecting pressing pad 64 by externalmeans (not shown) such as a wire cutter, wire W neither retreats intocylindrical containment cavity 40 nor does it spontaneously unspooloutwardly without being urged in that direction by an appreciableexternal force. Even if pushed inwardly, the slight spacing betweenpressing pads 57 and 56 will often makes it possible to retrieve a freeend with a finger nail or tweezers without separating the housing halves22 and 24 from each other. In the closed configuration, gripping pads 57and 56 are urged against wire W passing from the interior of wiredispenser 20 through slot 62 and between gripping pads 57 and 56 to theexterior of dispenser 20 thereby forestalling undesired retraction ofwire W into the interior of wire dispenser 20 in use. In use, grooves(not shown) may be worn into either or both of pads 57 and 56 as well asinto flexible restraining membrane 64 as wire W is withdrawn.Alternatively, such a groove may be intentionally formed but preferablyis not of sufficient size that wire W passes freely therethrough. InFIG. 10A, flexible restraining membrane 64 is depicted as having athickness of at least about 2 mils, preferably at least about 3 mils andmore usually between about to 100 mils, preferably between about 8 and75 mils, more preferably between about 9 and 50 mils, and mostpreferably between about 10 and 35 mils, allowing membrane 64 to deformeasily and flexibly to accommodate wires W of various thicknesseseasily, making dispenser 20 well suited to accommodate wires of any ofthe diameters commonly used for beading. In contrast, in FIG. 10,restraining membrane 64 is depicted as considerably thicker so thedegree of flexible deformation will be decreased and the degree ofpermanent deformation such as would result from wearing of a groovetherein is greater.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13-15, much of the structure is thesame and functions similarly as in the previous embodiments in FIGS.1-12 and thus need not be described in detail. In FIGS. 13 and 14, wiredispenser 120 comprises integrally formed housing halves 122 and 124adjoining each other along first living hinge 126 formed adjacenttriangular snout portions 128 and 130 of each housing half 122 and 124respectively. Housing halves 122 and 124 comprise triangular snoutportions 128 and 130. In FIG. 15, wire dispenser 220 comprisesintegrally formed housing halves 222 and 224 adjoining each other alongfirst living hinge 226 formed adjacent triangular snout portions 228 and230 of each housing half 222 and 224 respectively. Housing halves 222and 224 comprise triangular snout portions 228 and 230. The embodimentsof FIGS. 13-15 are best conceptualized as functioning in the samefashion as the embodiments of FIGS. 1-12 with those parts of the housingwhich are not essential to functioning of the dispenser being cut awayto save material and allow for use of smaller molds resulting inimproved manufacturing efficiency.

The present invention also relates to a method of dispensing beadingwires, comprising the steps of: providing a reel, manually graspable bya user and adapted to be retained in the user's palm, having: a hubhaving an axis of rotation and a pair of spaced apart flanges definingan annular wire storage region between said flanges and exterior to saidhub, said reel being rotable around the axis of rotation of said hub;and having a length of beading wire wrapped around said hub and disposedbetween said flanges; grasping said beading wire and exerting a beadingwire restraining force on said wire to prevent unreeling from aroundsaid reel without rotation of said reel around said axis; and exerting areel braking force acting upon at least one of said flanges to hinderfree rotation of said reel.

Preferably, a polymeric beading wire guide is provided having an axisabout which the reel is rotable and an integrally formed polymeric armextending from the axis of said hub to a location exterior to saidflanges, wherein the reel braking force and the beading wire restrainingforce are exerted by the arm.

In a preferred embodiment of the method of manually dispensing beadingwire by a user, the method comprises the steps of: providing a reel,manually graspable by a user and adapted to be held in the user's palm,having: a hub having an axis of rotation and a pair of spaced apartflanges defining an annular wire storage region between said flanges andexterior to said hub, said reel being rotable around the axis ofrotation of said hub; a length of beading wire wrapped around said hub,and disposed between said flanges; wherein when the reel is held in theuser's palm, the beading wire is being manually withdrawn by said userand a grip is provided for grasping the beading wire and exerting abeading wire restraining force on the wire to prevent unreeling fromaround said reel without rotation of said reel around said axis; and abrake is provided for exerting a reel braking force acting upon at leastone of the flanges to hinder free rotation of said reel.

Preferably, the reel braking force and the beading wire restrainingforce are exerted by a polymeric arm extending from the axis of said hubto a location exterior to said flanges. In preferred embodiments, themass of polymer included in said arm is less than 10 grams and the armis integrally formed from polymeric material.

In a more preferred embodiment, the method comprises the steps of:providing a reel having: a hub having an axis of rotation and a pair ofspaced apart flanges defining an annular wire storage region betweensaid flanges and exterior to said hub, said reel being rotable aroundthe axis of rotation of said hub; wherein the reel has a length ofbeading wire wrapped around the hub and disposed between the flanges;and a dispensing arm integrally formed from polymeric material, extendsfrom the hub of said reel to a location exterior to the flanges, themass of polymer included in the arm being less than 10 grams and thedispensing arm has: a gripper formed therein for grasping the beadingwire and exerting a beading wire restraining force on the beading wireto prevent unreeling from around said reel without rotation of the reelaround said axis; and a pressing foot for pressing against at least oneof the flanges and exerting a reel braking force acting thereupon tohinder free rotation of said reel, and the reel is held, and the beadingwire being manually pulled, by said user. Wires usable with the methodinclude beading wire having a plurality of at least 7 strands up to 49strands and ranging in diameter from between 0.007″ and 0.024″ whereinthe number of strands in the beading wire is either 19 or an integralmultiple of 7 with the strands being embedded in a cylindrical polymericmatrix, preferably comprising a polyamide such as nylon. Morepreferably, the beading wire comprises 7, 19, 21 strands. In the casewhere the beading wire comprises 21 or 49 strands, the strands arearrayed in circular groups of 7 strands combined to form the finishedbeading wire.

A particularly desirable feature of the present invention lies in thecontrolled force required for dispensing wire. Preferably, the forcerequired to withdraw wire from the dispenser varies with the wirediameter in accordance with the following Table 1.

TABLE 1 Withdrawal Force More Most Wire Minimum Preferred PreferredPreferred Maximum diameter Extend Extend Extend Extend Extend (in.)force (g) force (g) Force (g) Force (g) force (g) 0.024 20  25-100025-500 40-400 1500 0.018 15 15-750 25-400 40-350 1200 0.015 10 15-50025-300 30-300 1000 0.012 5 10-500 15-250 20-200 1000

In preferred embodiments, the dispenser will be formed frompolypropylene and the transverse distance between the walls of saidlongitudinal channel is between about 1/32″ and 3/32″ preferably about1/16″, with the length of the longitudinal channel being between about½″ to about 1″. Experiments were conducted using a polypropylenedispenser hung from a support with a small tray attached to the end ofthe wire. Weight were successively added to the tray to determine theweight that the wire was capable of sustaining (retain force) and theweight required to withdraw wire from the dispenser (extend force) asillustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18. In the case of a polypropylene dispenserhaving a channel with a length of about ½″ and a transverse distance ofabout 1/16″ between said walls it was found that, for each diameter ofbeading wire investigated, the force required to extend the wire fromwithin the dispenser was generally between the retain force and theextend force indicated below in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Wire diameter (″) Retain force (g) Extend force (g) 0.024 85 910.018 68 74 0.015 51 57 0.012 40 45

Accordingly, it can be appreciated that, in a dispenser configured assuggested, only a moderate but easily sustainable force is required towithdraw wire from the dispenser but the wire will not unwind unlesssome force is applied to the free end. Thus the wire remains neatly inplace in the dispenser unless the user wishes to withdraw wire but onlya moderate force is required to withdraw as much wire is required.

In a still more preferred embodiment, the method of manually dispensingbeading wire by a user, comprises the steps of: providing a reel having:a hub having an axis of rotation and a pair of spaced apart flangesdefining an annular wire storage region between said flanges andexterior to said hub, said reel being rotable around the axis ofrotation of said hub; a length of beading wire wrapped around said huband disposed between said flanges, said beading wire having a diameterbetween 0.007″ and 0.024″ and comprising a multiplicity of at least 19strands or 7 strands or an integral multiple of seven strands embeddedin a polyamide matrix; providing a dispensing arm integrally formed frompolymeric material, extending from the hub of said reel to a locationexterior to said flanges, the mass of polymer included in said arm beingless than 10 grams, said dispensing arm having: a gripper formed thereinfor grasping said beading wire and exerting a beading wire restrainingforce on said beading wire to prevent unreeling from around said reelwithout rotation of said reel around said axis; and a pressing foot forpressing against at least one of said flanges and exerting a reelbraking force acting thereupon to hinder free rotation of said reel,said reel being held, and said beading wire being manually pulled, bysaid user.

In manufacture, dispenser 20 can be formed from any convenient polymeror even metal if it is acceptable to substitute a true hinge for theliving hinge; but dispenser 20 will normally be formed from a polymercapable of forming a living hinge of rather extended duration, typicallypolypropylene or polyethylene although engineering resins like nylons oracetals can be substituted if shorter life span is acceptable. Themechanical dimensions suitable for living hinges are well known.

While the invention has been described in detail, modifications withinthe spirit and scope of the invention will be readily apparent to thoseof skill in the art. In view of the foregoing discussion, relevantknowledge in the art and references discussed above in connection withthe Background and Detailed Description, the disclosures of which areall incorporated herein by reference, further description is deemedunnecessary. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of theinvention and portions of various embodiments may be combined orinterchanged either in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is byway of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dispenser for flexible wire comprising: anintegrally formed housing; a resilient gripping member; and a reelhaving a length of wire coiled therearound; said length of wireextending exteriorly from said dispenser; said integrally formed housingcomprising two mating housing halves joined by a first living hinge,said housing halves being configurable in an open configuration and in aclosed configuration, each said housing half having a generally planarcentral portion and a snout portion adjacent thereto, said generallyplanar central portion and said snout portion being generallyencompassed by an upstanding peripheral wall overlappingly engageablewith the peripheral wall on the adjoining housing half, said housinghalves in said closed configuration defining a generally cylindricalreel containment cavity having a centrally located axle located therein;the snout portion having a retention portion formed therein, theretention portion having a longitudinal channel and a transverse channelformed therein, said longitudinal channel being generally parallel to atangent to the cylindrical reel containment cavity, said transversechannel being generally transverse to the longitudinal channel and beingadapted to retain said resilient gripping member therein, wherein: atleast one of said housing halves has a reel brake formed into thegenerally planar portion thereof; at least one of said housing halveshas a locking flap formed therein at a location generally opposed to thelocation of said first living hinge, said locking flap being joined tothe generally planar portion of the housing half by a second livinghinge, the other of said housing halves having a locking lug formedtherein, said locking flap being engageable with said locking lug tomaintain said housing halves in said closed configuration; said reel isrotably mounted within said cylindrical reel containment cavity; andsaid wire passes from said reel, through said snout and engages saidresilient gripping member as it extends exteriorly to said dispenser. 2.A dispenser for flexible wire comprising: an integrally formed housing;and a reel having a length of wire coiled therearound and extendingexteriorly from said dispenser; said integrally formed housingcomprising two housing halves, said housing halves configurable into aclosed configuration; each said housing half having a central portionand a snout portion adjacent thereto; said housing halves in said closedconfiguration defining a dispenser having a reel containment cavitydefined therein; a centrally located axle located therein; the snoutportion having a retention portion formed therein, the retention portionhaving a longitudinal channel formed therein, said longitudinal channelbeing generally parallel to a tangent to the reel, each of said wallportions of said channel being adapted to engage a portion of said wireextending exteriorly to said housing; and wherein said reel is rotablymounted within said reel containment cavity and said wire passes fromsaid reel, through said longitudinal channel, and bears against saidwall portions of said transverse channel as it extends exteriorly tosaid dispenser.
 3. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein: said reel has atleast one flange thereupon, said reel brake comprises a flexible flapsurrounded by a slot formed into said central portion of said housinghalf, said flexible flap bearing a retarding projection extendinginwardly interiorly into said reel containment cavity bearing againstsaid flange of said reel an serving to retard rotation of said reel. 4.The dispenser of claim 3, wherein said slot defining said reel brake isU-shaped.
 5. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein the slot defining saidreel brake has arcuate legs.
 6. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein thereel brake comprises an interiorly extending dome-shaped projectionformed into the central portion of one of said housing halves.
 7. Thedispenser of claim 6, wherein the reel comprises at least two flangesand said dispenser comprises two reel brakes, each reel brake bearingagainst one of said flanges.
 8. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein anintegrally formed restraining membrane is formed into one of said halvesadjacent the longitudinal channel bearing against said wire as it exitsthe dispenser.
 9. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein said central portionof each said half is generally circular, said snout portion is generallytriangular and adjoins said central portion along its longest leg, eachsaid central portion having upstanding sidewalls overlappinglyengageable with the upstanding sidewalls the other central portion, andsaid restraining membrane has a thickness of between about 5 and 100mils and is urged against said wire when said housing halves are intheir closed configuration.
 10. A dispenser for flexible wirecomprising: (a) an integrally formed housing; and a (b) reel having alength of wire coiled therearound and extending exteriorly from saiddispenser; said integrally formed housing comprising two engageablehousing halves, said housing halves being configurable in an openconfiguration and in a closed configuration, each said housing halfhaving a generally planar central portion and a snout portion, saidgenerally planar central portion and said snout portion being generallyencompassed by an upstanding peripheral wall overlappingly engageablewith the peripheral wall of the opposing housing half; said housinghalves in said closed configuration defining a generally cylindricalreel containment cavity; (c) a retention portion formed adjacent saidsnout portion, the retention portion comprising walls defining alongitudinal channel, said longitudinal channel being generally parallelto a tangent to the cylindrical reel containment cavity, each wall ofsaid channel being adapted to engage a portion of said wire extendingexteriorly to said housing, wherein: said reel is rotable within saidcylindrical reel containment cavity and said wire passes from said reelthrough said longitudinal channel, engaging said walls as it extendsexteriorly to said housing.
 11. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein: saidreel has at least one flange thereupon: and a reel brake is formed intoa generally planar central portion of at least one of said housinghalves, said reel brake comprising a flexible tongue surrounded by aslot formed into said central portion of said housing half, saidflexible tongue bearing a retarding projection extending inwardly intosaid reel containment cavity bearing against said flange of said reeland serving to retard rotation of said reel.
 12. The dispenser of claim11, wherein said slot defining said reel brake is U-shaped.
 13. Thedispenser of claim 12, wherein the slot defining said reel brake hasarcuate legs.
 14. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein said reel brakefurther comprises an interiorly extending dome-shaped projection formedinto the central portion of one of said housing halves.
 15. Thedispenser of claim 10, further comprising a restraining membraneintegrally formed with said dispenser adjacent to said longitudinalchannel and bearing against said wire is it passes through said channelto the exterior of said dispenser.
 16. The dispenser of claim 15,wherein said snout has a pair of pressing pads integrally formedtherewith adjacent the upstanding peripheral walls in the snout portionof said dispenser and bearing against said wire as it passes withoutsaid dispenser.
 17. The dispenser of claim 16 wherein said restrainingmembrane has a thickness of between 5 and 100 mils.
 18. The dispenser ofclaim 17, wherein said housing halves are joined by a living hinge, atleast one of said housing halves has a locking flap formed therein at alocation generally opposed to the location of said living hinge, saidlocking flap is joined to the generally planar portion of the housinghalf by a second living hinge, the other of said housing halves having alocking lug formed therein, said locking flap being engageable with saidlocking lug to maintain said housing halves in said closedconfiguration; and said central portion of each said half is generallycircular, said snout portion is generally triangular and adjoins saidcentral portion along its longest leg, said upstanding sidewalls engageoverlappingly, said retention flap has a slot defined therein extendinggenerally tangentially to the periphery of said generally circularcentral portion of its associated housing half, the locking lug has: abase adjoining the body of its associated housing half and extendingtangentially to the periphery of the generally circular central portionof its associated housing half; and a bulbous portion formed distal tosaid associated housing half, said thickened portion being insertablethrough the slot defined in the locking flap when said housing halvesare in their closed configuration.
 19. A dispenser for flexible wirecomprising: an integrally formed housing; and a reel adapted to have alength of wire coiled therearound; said length of wire being extendableexteriorly from said dispenser; said integrally formed housingcomprising two mating housing halves joined by a first living hinge,said housing halves being configurable in an open configuration and in aclosed configuration, each said housing half having a generally planarcentral portion and a snout portion adjacent thereto, said generallyplanar central portion and said snout portion being generallyencompassed by an upstanding peripheral wall overlappingly engageablewith the peripheral wall on the adjoining housing half, said housinghalves in said closed configuration defining a generally cylindricalreel containment cavity having a centrally located axle located therein;the snout portion having a retention portion formed therein, theretention portion having a longitudinal channel and a resilient grippingmember formed integrally with said housing, said longitudinal channelbeing generally parallel to a tangent to the cylindrical reelcontainment cavity, wherein: at least one of said housing halves has areel brake formed into the generally planar portion thereof; whereinsaid resilient gripping member is located between said longitudinalchannel and the exterior of said dispenser and bears against said wireas it exits said dispenser; said reel is rotably mounted within saidcylindrical reel containment cavity; and said wire may be passed fromsaid reel, through said longitudinal channel and deformably engage saidresilient gripping member as it is withdrawn exteriorly to saiddispenser.
 20. A method of manually dispensing beading wire, comprisingthe steps of: (a) providing an integrally formed dispenser housinghaving a reel disposed therein, said dispenser being manually graspableby a user and adapted to be held in the user's palm, said dispenserhaving: a hub having an axis of rotation and a pair of spaced apartflanges defining an annular wire storage region between said flanges andexterior to said hub, said reel being rotable around the axis ofrotation of said hub; a length of beading wire wrapped around said huband disposed between said flanges; and (b) grasping said beading wirewhile said integrally formed dispenser exerts a beading wire restrainingforce on said wire to prevent spontaneous unreeling from around saidreel while exerting a reel braking force acting upon at least one ofsaid flanges to hinder free rotation of said reel.
 21. The method ofclaim 20 wherein said reel braking force and said beading wirerestraining force are exerted by an integrally formed polymeric armextending from the axis of said hub to a location exterior to saidflanges.
 22. A method of manually dispensing beading wire by a user,comprising the steps of: (a) providing a dispenser frame having reelrotably mounted thereupon, said dispenser frame being manually graspableby a user and adapted to be held in the user's palm, having: a hubhaving an axis of rotation and a pair of spaced apart flanges definingan annular wire storage region between said flanges and exterior to saidhub, said reel being rotable around the axis of rotation of said hub; alength of beading wire wrapped around said hub and disposed between saidflanges; (b) grasping said beading wire while said dispenser frameexerts: (i) a beading wire restraining force on said wire to preventspontaneous unreeling from around said reel; and (ii) a reel brakingforce acting upon at least one of said flanges to hinder free rotationof said reel, said dispenser frame being held in the user's palm andsaid beading wire being manually withdrawn by said user.
 23. The methodof claim 22 wherein said reel braking force and said beading wirerestraining force are exerted by a polymeric arm extending from the axisof said hub to a location exterior to said flanges having a flexiblewire restraining membrane formed therein.
 24. The method of claim 23wherein the mass of polymer included in said arm is less than 10 gramsand the thickness of said membrane is between about 5 and about 100mils.
 25. The method of claim 24 wherein said arm is integrally formedfrom polymeric material and the thickness of said membrane is betweenabout 8 and about 75 mils.
 26. A method of manually dispensing beadingwire by a user, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a dispenser framebearing a reel rotably mounted thereupon, said reel having: a hub havingan axis of rotation and a pair of spaced apart flanges defining anannular wire storage region between said flanges and exterior to saidhub, said reel being rotable around the axis of rotation of said hub; alength of beading wire wrapped around said hub and disposed between saidflanges; (b) providing a dispensing arm integrally formed from polymericmaterial, extending from the hub of said reel to a location exterior tosaid flanges, the mass of polymer included in said arm being less than10 grams, said dispensing arm having: a gripper integrally formedtherein for grasping said beading wire and exerting a beading wirerestraining force on said beading wire to prevent spontaneous unreelingfrom around said reel; and a pressing foot for pressing against at leastone of said flanges and exerting a reel braking force acting thereuponto hinder free rotation of said reel, said dispensing frame being held,and said beading wire being manually pulled, by said user.
 27. A methodof manually dispensing beading wire, comprising the steps of: (a)providing a dispenser frame bearing a reel rotably mounted thereupon,manually graspable by a user and adapted to be held in the user's palm,said reel having: a hub having an axis of rotation and a pair of spacedapart flanges defining an annular wire storage region between saidflanges and exterior to said hub, said reel being rotable around theaxis of rotation of said hub; a length of beading wire wrapped aroundsaid hub and disposed between said flanges, said beading wire having aplurality of at least 7 strands up to 49 strands and ranging in diameterfrom between 0.007″ and 0.024″; (b) grasping said beading wire with saiddispenser frame exerting a beading wire restraining force on said wireto prevent spontaneous unreeling from around said reel without rotationof said reel around said axis; and (c) exerting a reel braking forceacting upon at least one of said flanges to hinder free rotation of saidreel.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein said reel braking force andsaid beading wire restraining force are exerted by an integrally formedpolymeric arm extending from the axis of said hub to a location exteriorto said flanges, said arm having a longitudinally extending channelhaving at least two walls formed therein, said arm also having a wirerestraining membrane formed therein against which said wire bears afterpassing through said longitudinally extending channel, said wire bearingagainst at least two walls of said longitudinally extending channel asit passes through said arm.
 29. A method of manually dispensing beadingwire by a user, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a dispenser framebearing a reel rotably mounted thereupon, said dispenser frame beingmanually graspable by a user and adapted to be held in the user's palm,said reel having: a hub having an axis of rotation and a pair of spacedapart flanges defining an annular wire storage region between saidflanges and exterior to said hub, said reel being rotable around theaxis of rotation of said hub; a length of beading wire wrapped aroundsaid hub and disposed between said flanges, said beading wire ranging indiameter from between 0.007″ and 0.024″ and a multi-strand constructionincluding at least 7 metallic strands embedded in a polymeric matrix;(b) grasping said beading wire while said dispenser frame exerts: (i) abeading wire restraining force on said wire to prevent spontaneousunreeling from around said reel without rotation of said reel aroundsaid axis; and (ii) a reel braking force acting upon at least one ofsaid flanges to hinder free rotation of said reel, said dispenser framebeing held in the user's palm and said beading wire being manuallywithdrawn by said user.
 30. The method of claim 29, wherein said reelbraking force and said beading wire restraining force are exerted by apolymeric arm extending from the axis of said hub to a location exteriorto said flanges, said polymeric arm having formed therein: alongitudinally extending channel having at least two walls against whichsaid wire bears; a wire restraining membrane bearing against said wire;and and a pair of pressing pads engaging said wire, said channel, saidmembrane and said pressing pads exerting the wire restraining force uponsaid wire and wherein the number of strands in the beading wire is anintegral multiple of
 7. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the mass ofpolymer included in said arm is less than 10 grams and wherein thethickness of said restraining membrane is between about 5 and 100 mils.32. The method of claim 31, wherein said arm is integrally formed frompolymeric material and the thickness of said restraining membrane isbetween about 8 and 75 mils.
 33. A method of manually dispensing beadingwire by a user, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a reel having: ahub having an axis of rotation and a pair of spaced apart flangesdefining an annular wire storage region between said flanges andexterior to said hub, said reel being rotable around the axis ofrotation of said hub; a length of beading wire wrapped around said huband disposed between said flanges, said beading wire having a diameterbetween 0.007″ and 0.024″ and comprising either 19 strands or amultiplicity of at least 7 strands or an integral multiple thereofembedded in a polyamide matrix; (b) providing a dispensing armintegrally formed from polymeric material, extending from the hub ofsaid reel to a location exterior to said flanges, the mass of polymerincluded in said arm being less than 10 grams, said dispensing armhaving: a gripper formed therein for grasping said beading wire andexerting a beading wire restraining force on said beading wire toprevent unreeling from around said reel without rotation of said reelaround said axis; and a pressing foot for pressing against at least oneof said flanges and exerting a reel braking force acting thereupon tohinder free rotation of said reel, said reel being held, and saidbeading wire being manually pulled, by said user.
 34. A dispenser forflexible wire comprising: a housing; and a reel adapted to have a lengthof wire coiled therearound; said length of wire being extendableexteriorly from said dispenser; said housing having a central portionhaving a centrally located axle located therein and a snout portionadjacent thereto; the snout portion having a retention portion formedtherein, the retention portion having formed therein: a longitudinalchannel, said longitudinal channel being generally parallel to a tangentto the reel, said longitudinal channel having at least two wallscontacting said wire, a wire restraining membrane having a thickness ofbetween about 9 and about 50 mils bearing against said wire; and a pairof gripper pads engaging said wire, wherein: said housing has a reelbrake formed into the central portion thereof; said reel is rotablymounted about said centrally located axle; and said wire may be passedfrom said reel and through said snout bearing against at least two wallsof said longitudinal channel and said wire restraining membrane andbetween said gripper pads as extended exteriorly to said dispenser, aforce of at least about 20 grams but no more than about 1500 grams beingrequired to withdraw said wire from said dispenser.
 35. The dispenserfor flexible wire of claim 34 wherein a force of at least about 25 gramsbut no more than about 1000 grams is required to withdraw said wirethrough said channel.
 36. The dispenser for flexible wire of claim 34wherein a force of at least about 25 grams but no more than about 500grams is required to withdraw said wire through said channel.
 37. Thedispenser for flexible wire of claim 34 wherein a force of at leastabout 20 grams but no more than about 400 grams is required to withdrawsaid wire through said channel.
 38. A dispenser for flexible wirecomprising: a housing; and a reel adapted to have a length of wirecoiled therearound; said length of wire having a diameter of betweenabout 0.012″ and 0.024″ being extendable exteriorly from said dispenser;said housing having a central portion having a centrally located axlelocated therein and a snout portion adjacent thereto; the snout portionhaving a retention portion formed therein, the retention portion havingformed therein: a longitudinal channel, said longitudinal channel beinggenerally parallel to a tangent to the reel, said longitudinal channelhaving at least two walls, the distance between said two walls beingbetween about 1/32″ and 3/32″, a wire restraining membrane bearingagainst said wire, said membrane having a thickness of between about 10and 35 mils; and a pair of gripper pads, gripping said wire betweenthem, wherein: said housing is formed from polypropylene and has a reelbrake formed into the central portion thereof; said reel is rotablymounted about said centrally located axle; and said wire may be passedfrom said reel and through said snout bearing against at least two wallsof said longitudinal channel as extended exteriorly to said dispenser, aforce of at least about 20 grams but no more than about 100 grams isrequired to withdraw said wire through said channel.